I am sure that most of you have heard that the 1940 USA census has been released in the states. There has been great excitement as to which organisation is getting it indexed and online first.

Well this post isn’t about the census, but is relevant if you find someone who has emigrated to America. Many people who moved there were processed through the government department at Ellis Island and this website has an amazing database with millions of names of those from all round the world who were looking for a better life in a new country.

There is an urban myth which says that many people has their names changed during the emigration process by officials at Ellis Island to make them easier to say and spell for the english speaking civil servants. I read recently, and can’t remember where, that there is no evidence that this happened. Oh well another myth bites the dust!!

An interesting article in this months WDYTYA magazine pointed me to this website which is dedicated to the men who fought & died in WW1 and who were from the Craven district of Yorkshire. The Craven district is the area within a 20 mile radius of Skipton in North Yorkshire.

So if you have an interest in this area take a look at this site, it is a great example of what people with an enthusiasm for history can achieve.

FindMyPast has been busy again, this time they have published online approx. 113,000 new Chester wills & probate records. My friend Jill will be very pleased about that !!! The records cover the time period 1492 – 1911 and are all the surviving original wills of Cheshire folk whose wills were proved in the Chester diocesan consistory court 1492-1857 and registered copies made at Chester Probate Registry 1858-1911.

Cheshire Archives & Local Studies are the partners in this latest FindMyPast offering.

Think I’ll have to adopt some of Jill’s ancestors as I don’t have anyone from that area on my tree

FamilySearch is looking for people to test drive some of their future products. You will get a look at what the future holds and get to try ideas out and then give feedback. Sounds like a fun way to give something back to the world of genealogy

About Me

History, particularly Family History is my passion. I have worked in libraries & archives, I teach family history, conduct workshops and give genealogy presentations. It seemed a shame to have all this knowledge & experience and not share it with others, so this website was born.